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This creamy beef and bowtie pasta saved my sanity one night when the kids were starving and time was tight. Now it's our comfort food hero. Rich sauce hugs every piece of pasta while tender beef makes it filling enough for my hungry bunch. Best part? It looks fancy but comes together in less time than ordering takeout.
What Makes This So Good
Quick enough for crazy weeknights but tasty enough for Sunday dinner. The sauce turns silky smooth coating every bowtie pasta perfectly. Throw in whatever veggies are sitting in your fridge or switch up the cheese. This recipe forgives any tweaks and still turns out amazing every time.
Grab These From Your Kitchen
- Pasta: 8 oz bowtie pasta they catch all the good sauce
- The Meat: 1 lb ground beef or turkey works great too
- Fresh Stuff: 1 onion and 2 cloves garlic minced up
- The Sauce: 1 cup each beef broth and heavy cream make it rich
- Extra Good: 1 cup shredded cheese your choice
- Flavor Makers: Italian seasoning salt pepper and fresh parsley
Lets Get Cooking
- Start With Pasta
- Get your water boiling nice and salty cook those bowties until just right drain and set aside.
- Cook The Beef
- Brown your meat in a big skillet about 7 minutes getting it all crumbly.
- Add The Flavor Base
- Toss in onion and garlic cook until your kitchen smells amazing about 4 minutes.
- Make It Saucy
- Pour in broth and cream add seasonings let it bubble and thicken up.
- Bring It Together
- Mix in pasta and cheese watch it get all melty and delicious.
- Time To Eat
- Sprinkle fresh parsley on top and dig in while it's hot.
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Make It Your Way
Switch to turkey when you want it lighter. Play with different cheeses parmesan makes it fancy gruyere gets fancy. Throw in spinach peppers or mushrooms nobody will complain about extra veggies in this sauce. Make extra for tomorrow just splash in some cream when you warm it up.
What Goes With It
A simple green salad makes it feel like a real dinner. My kids fight over the last piece of garlic bread to swipe through the sauce. Everything tastes better with warm crusty bread on the side.
Save Some For Later
Pop leftovers in a container they'll stay good in the fridge for 3 or 4 days. When you reheat add a splash of cream or broth to bring back that silky sauce. Warm it slow and gentle whether using the stove or microwave.
Good To Know
Each bowl gives you about 600 calories plenty of protein from the beef carbs from pasta and yes some good fat too. Numbers might change depending on your ingredients and how hungry everyone is.
Why We Love This
This pasta hits all the right spots. Uses stuff you probably have in your kitchen already won't break the bank and makes everyone happy. Change it up however you like it always turns out great. Try it once and watch it become your new favorite rescue dinner.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → Can I use different pasta shapes?
- Any medium pasta shape works well. Adjust cooking time based on package instructions for al dente texture.
- → Why cook pasta separately?
- Cooking pasta separately ensures perfect texture. It won't absorb too much liquid or release excess starch into the sauce.
- → Can I use half and half instead of cream?
- Yes, but sauce will be thinner. For similar richness, use less half and half and add more cheese to maintain thickness.
- → How do I prevent sauce from breaking?
- Add cream to warm (not boiling) sauce and stir constantly. Keep heat low when adding dairy to prevent separation.
- → Can I add vegetables?
- Yes, add cooked vegetables like broccoli, peas, or spinach at the end. Raw vegetables may release too much water into sauce.